Successful treatment of three patients with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus genotype 1b co-infection by daclatasvir plus asunaprevir

Mechanism of Action of Acupotomy in Inhibiting Chondrocyte Apoptosis in Rabbits with KOA through the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway

Objective

We examined the effects of acupotomy on the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway to elucidate the mechanism of action of acupotomy on articular chondrocyte apoptosis among rabbits with knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods

New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned to a healthy control group, placebo group, acupotomy group, and drug group, with 10 rabbits in each group. Changes in chondrocytes were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining, and articular chondrocyte apoptosis was measured by electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot.

Results

In contrast, less chromatin margination and clear and smooth nuclear envelope boundary were visible in the acupotomy group and drug group. The number of apoptotic chondrocytes in the knee joint of rabbits was significantly higher in the placebo group than that in the acupotomy group and drug group (P < 0.05). The acupotomy group had a nonsignificantly lower number of apoptotic chondrocytes than the drug group (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PI3K and Akt were significantly higher in the acupotomy group and drug group than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05) and were closer to normal levels in the acupotomy group than those in the drug group (P < 0.05). PI3K and Akt expression levels were negatively correlated with chondrocyte apoptosis in the knee joint of rabbits in all groups.

Conclusion

Inhibiting chondrocyte apoptosis in the knee joint of KOA rabbits by upregulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway may be a possible mechanism of acupotomy in treating KOA.

Ultra-Deep Genomic Sequencing of HCV NS5A Resistance-Associated Substitutions in HCV/HIV Coinfected Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The prevalence of naturally occurring HCV-NS5A resistance-associated substitutions (RAS) to DAA drugs might affect the response to treatment in HCV/HIV coinfected subjects. There are limited data on the frequency of HCV-NS5A naturally occurring drug-RAS at baseline in HCV/HIV coinfected patients when ultra-deep sequencing methodologies are applied.

METHODS

HCV-NS5A-RAS were evaluated among 25 subjects in each group. Patients were matched by age, gender, and hepatic fibrosis stage category to control for selection bias.

RESULTS

Within subtype 1a, RAS were observed in 28% of HCV monoinfected and 48% of HCV/HIV coinfected subjects. More patients in the HCV/HIV coinfected group had clinically relevant mutations to DAA directed at NS5A.

CONCLUSION

While the clinical significance of this observation may be limited in highly drug adherent populations, some HCV/HIV coinfected persons may be at greater risk of viral resistance if suboptimal dosing occurs.